Ta.TA . 


2 1 <2>ha.  'M-So  n 


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in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/extensionworktusOOrich 


EXTENSION  WORK 


TUSKEGEE  NORMAL  AND  INDUSTRIAL 
INSTITUTE 

TUSKEGEE  INSTITUTE.  ALABAMA 


BY 


CLEMENT  RICHARDSON 


Printed  hy  Students 
at  Tuskegee  Institutf 


BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES 


Seth  r^nv,  Chainimii 

Wright  W.  Camphell,  Vice-Chairman 

William  G.  Willcox 

R.  O.  Simpson 

V.  II.  Tnlane 

Bt'lton  Gilreath 

Charles  W.  Hare 

Booker  T.  Washington 

AVarren  liOgan 

A.  .1.  Wilhorn 

AVilliam  .1.  Schieft'elin 

Cliarles  E.  Mason 

Frank  Triimhull 

Tlieodorr-  Roosevelt 

Jnlins  Rosemvahl 

William  AI.  Scott 

George  AIcAneny 

Edgar  A.  Bancroft 

.Ue.xander  Mann.  I).  1) 


-New  York  City,  N.  Y. 
-Tnskegee,  Alahama 

- Xew  York  City,  N.  Y. 
-Furman,  Alaliama 

- Alontgomery , Alabama 
..Birmingham,  Alabama 
-Tnskegee,  Alahama 
-Tnskegee  Institute,  Ala. 

Tnskegee  Institute,  Ala. 
. T'nskegee,  Alaliama 
-New  York  City.  N.  Y. 
-Boston,  Alassachnsetts 
-New  York  Cit.v.  N.  Y. 
-Oyster  Bay,  New  I’ork 
-Chicago,  Illinois 
-ITiiladelphia,  I’enn. 
..New  York  City,  N.  Y. 
..Chicago.  Illinois 
-Boston.  Massachusetts 


The  Tnskegee  Normal  and  Industrial  Institute  is  located  in  the 
Black  I’elt  ot  the  ,'<onth.  in  the  .State  of  Alai  ama.  near  the  town  of 
Tnskegee.  .Mal  ania.  It  was  fonndeil  .July  4.  1SN1.  and  has  for  its  object 
the  training  of  young  colored  men  and  women  for  service  for  their 
race. 

Aside  from  the  work  done  on  the  Institute  grounds,  it  has  been 
suggested  that  it  would  he  interesting  and  valuable  for  the  fritmds  of 
the  Institute  and  the  jiuhlic  to  he  given  a clearin’  insight  into  the  large 
amount  of  work  being  done  off  the  grounds  through  the  Extension  De- 
partment of  the  Institute. 

Further  information  if  desired  may  he  had  from 

BOOKER  T.  WASIIINGT()N,  I’rinciiial, 

Tnskegee  Institute.  Alabama. 


FORM  OF  BEQUEST 

I give  and  devise  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Tnskegee  Normal  and  Indus- 
trial Institute,  Tnskegee  Institute.  Alabama,  the  sum  of 

dollars,  payable,  etc. 


SiiowiNo  Teams  of  Faumers  Who  Attend  the  Anni  al  Tvskeree  FonI' i:ri;n(  e. 


TUSKEGEE  EXTENSION  WORK 


I T oil  the  1 ig  plantations  of  the  South  the  Negro  farmer's  hut 
most  commonly  stamls  alone.  Day  after  clay  the  farmer  aucl 
his  family  look  out  over  the  vast  landscapes,  sometimes  white 
with  cotton  in  its  fruitage,  sometimes  barren,  sometimes  with- 
ering and  jiarching  under  a hot  sun.  The  wife  and  children  chop  cotton 
in  the  solitary  fields,  hurry  home  near  noon  time  and  cook  a scant 
meal  of  corn  bread  and  fried  meat,  again  hasten  back  to  the  hoe  and 
again  back  to  the  hut  to  a scant  meal.  The  only  sure  break  of  the 
monotony  of  a day.  nay  of  a week,  is  a lone  buzzard  tilting  lazily  about 
ocerhead.  The  rattle  of  a wagon  along  the  highway,  the  puff  of  an 
automobile,  startles  the  laborers,  who  lean  dreamily  on  their  hoes  until 
the  vehicle  is  out  of  sight  and  hearing. 

At  home  when  rest  time  conies  the  monotony  is  even  more  oppressive. 
A bare  yard  without  grass,  tree  or  flower  greets  them  on  the  outside. 
Are  they  not  all  too  busy  to  bother  with  trees  and  flowers?  Well  no, 
not  altogether.  But  they  may  not  live  in  this  cottage  next  year,  accord- 
ing to  their  reasoning,  so  what  is  the  use?  As  for  grass,  why  some  still 
beiieve  it  is  poisonous,  and  of  course  wouldn't  plant  it.  As  for  shade 
when  they  sit  out  of  doors,  they  pursue  the  shadow  of  the  house.  Besides 
a bed.  maybe  a bureau,  a few  chairs,  no  pictures,  no  music,  no  books, 
and  you  have  a pretty  fair  sketch  of  the  Negro  plantation  farmer.  Their 
life  outside  occupation  is  summed  up  by  attending  two  church  services 
a month  and  by  going  to  store  or  headciuarters  when  they  need  advance- 
ment in  food,  money,  or  farm  implements. 

Is  there  any  uoiider  if  vice  sometimes  creeps  in.  one  might  say,  sails 
ill  on  the  wings  of  monotony?  Is  there  any  wonder  that  when  Saturday 
comes  a Negro  farmer  in  his  busiest  season  will  leave  his  cotton  all 
picked  and  piled  in  the  field,  lock  up  his  house  and  take  his  family  to 
town  to  sjiend  the  day?  Is  there  any  wonder  that  he  sometimes  gets 
down  behind  the  bushes  and  gambles,  or  even  that  his  mind  drifts  into 
crimes  of  a baser  sort. 

Now  this  condition  in  all  its  nicer  phases,  of  farming,  of  gardening, 
poultry-raising,  lawn-making,  flower-raising,  and  shrub-growing,  beauti- 
fying and  cheering  the  inside  of  the  home,  cooking  and  dressing  better, 
building  better  schools,  extending  school  terms,  teaching  in  a practical 
and  tangible,  way.  getting  the  colored  people  together  and  In  sympathy 
with  one  another — this  condition  is  the  foundation  of  the  extension  work 
at  Tiiskegee  Institute. 

The  great  privilege  of  teaching  among  colored  people  generally,  and 
among  rural  people  in  particular,  is  that  you  must  work  both  forward 


6 


tt’skePtEp:  extension  work. 


and  backward.  Stolid  though  our  rural  people  appear,  there  is  never- 
llieless  a ver.v  tender  bond  of  sympathy  between  parent  and  child,  the 
parent  often  directing,  even  doininatiiif;.  the  child  long  after  the  latter 
has  grown  up  and  married  and  has  a family  of  his  own.  Thus  to  teach 
the  child  profitably  you  must  teach  the  parent  also ; else  what  you  give 
the  child  hy  day  will  be  taken  from  him  and  thrown  to  the  winds  hy 
night.  It  would  be  idle  to  teach  the  child  ventilation,  bathing,  flower 
and  grass  cultivation  at  school  if  you  did  not  in  some  degree  reach  the 
I)arents  at  home. 


THE  WORK  OF  THE  SUMMER  SCHOOL. 

One  of  the  agencies  now  at  work,  particularly  on  the  educational 
side,  is  the  summer  school.  For  the  last  five  years  an  average  of  3.10 
teachers  has  enrolled  and  pursued  courses  looking  to  direct  improvement 
of  I'ural  school  and  community  life.  The  summer  just  past  registered 
380  teachers  from  fourteen  different  States  and  from  Porto  Rico.  For 
the  most  part  the  teachers  elect  studies  with  an  immediate  purpose  in 
view.  Thus  the  past  summer  witnessed  more  than  a score  of  these 
electing  canning  with  the  fi.ved  plan  of  putting  canning  in  the  schools, 
of  organizing  canning  clulis  among  the  children.  Not  a few  were  going 
immediately  back  to  can  some  of  the  products  during  the  i)resent  season. 
Others  elect  basket-making ; hroom-making,  shuck  and  pine  needle  work, 
and  still  others,  in  large  numbers,  manual  training.  These  courses  have 
already  brought  interest  into  the  school  room  among  the  children  and 
have  attracted  the  parents  to  the  schoolhouse.  One  teacher  writes  that 
the  school  and  her  communit.v  was  dead,  but  having  taken  i>ine  needle 
and  shuck  work,  she  went  home  and  put  the  children  to  work  with 
their  hands.  There  was  no  longer  trouble  with  getting  children  to 
school  or  with  getting  parents  to  attend  meetings  at  the  schoolhouse. 
A teacher  from  IMississippi  did  not  know  how  to  form  and  handle 
mothers’  clubs.  She  got  this  information  at  the  summer  school,  went 
home  and  started  the  clubs.  Such  “enthusiasm,”  she  wrote,  she  had 
never  seen.  Another  teacher  from  Mississippi  learned  to  make  brooms 
in  the  summer  school  and  stirred  a good  part  of  her  State  with  broom- 
making. Still  another  cleaned  u])  her  community  by  giving  cooking 
lessons  in  flu*  various  homes,  there  being  no  utensils  in  the  school.  Still 
another  who  had  the  supervision  of  all  the  schools  of  a certain  county, 
stirred  her  whole  county  with  the  putting  in  of  pine  needle  work,  baskets 
of  weei)ing-willow.  the  making  of  wash-lioards,  trash  baskets  and  the 
like.  The  white  people  of  the  county  sent  in  the  complaint  to  the 
county  su])erintendent  that  the  colored  children  were  being  taught  more 
than  the  white.  There  being  no  white  teacher  who  could  give  these 
lessons  at  that  time,  this  colored  teacher  offered  to  instruct  any  of 
these  white  children  who  cared  to  come  to  her  for  the  lessons.  She 


tuskegep:  extension  work. 


also  told  her  children  to  pass  on  as  much  as  they  coidd  to  the  white 
children  with  whom  they  came  in  contact. 

Rut  the  summer  school  is  not  one  of  hand  training  only.  It  gives 
regular  literary  courses  along  with  the  industrial  work.  The  same 
purpose  is.  however,  kept  uppermost,  to  help  the  teacher  help  those  at 
home.  Thus  in  a lesson  in  arithmetic,  in  geometry,  in  grammar,  in 
geography,  the  instructor  in  the  summer  school  seeks  not  only  to  impart 
subject  matter  hut  to  give  live  methods  of  teaching.  To  meastire  the 
class  room  floor,  to  compute  the  cost  of  a cotton  crop,  to  make  sen- 
tences on  peaches,  to  lay  out  a mimic  continent  and  lay  upon  it  all  its 


The  Old  Sc  hool  .vr  Rio  Ziox.  Now  Repl.cced  by  Folr-Room  Ruildixg. 


main  products  are  some  of  the  means  whereby  an  instructor  gives  sub- 
ject matter  and  methods  of  teaching  at  the  same  time. 

That  the  summer  school  is  accomplishing  its  pin’pose  both  at  home 
and  abroad  is  best  seen  by  the  testimony  of  three  experts  in  school 
methods.  Dr.  .7.  II.  Dillard,  Mr.  .1.  L.  Sibley,  and  Mr.  W.  R.  Riley.  Mr. 
Riley  is  Superintendent  of  Schools  of  Macon  County,  Alaliama.  Refore 
the  Trustees  of  Tuskegee  Institute  in  February,  1914,  he  said : 

"This  school  is  doing  more  than  any  other  I know  anything  about 
in  bringing  boys  and  girls  in  touch  with  real  life.  The  teachers  who 
are  being  sent  out  from  here  are  in  touch  with  problems  of  life  and 


8 


TUSKEGKE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


I’niNcirAi.  Washington  and  rAiciY  Visiiing  a Eakmku  iiv  tiiic  ^^■AV. 


TI'SKE(tEE  extension  work. 


9 


practical  education  as  is  true  of  no  other  teachers  that  I know  auy- 
thiiiiT  about.  I am  very  enthusiastic  about  this  subject  of  the  kind  of 
uork  this  school  is  doiiie:." 

INIr.  Sibley,  Supervisor  of  Neja'o  Rural  Schools  of  the  State  of  Ala- 
bama, before  the  same  body  said  : 

"Tuskegee  is  setting  in  motion  a spirit  of  helpfulness  and  thorough- 
going practical  education  whJcli  is  l:eing  felt  iu  all  the  rural  schools  of 
Alabama." 

I»r.  Dillard  is  President  of  the  Anna  T.  .Jeanes  Foundation  and 
Director  of  the  .lohn  E.  .Slater  Fund.  Through  the  various  teachers 
under  these  funds  he  touches  intimately  every  State  in  the  South. 


A Cl.nss  Ix  Cooking  and  IIome-P.i  ilihno.  Macon  County,  Ala. 


Mr.  Dillard's  speech  before  the  trustees  in  February.  1914,  was,  in 
I)art : 

•T  have  never  seen  anywhere  better  teaching  than  I have  seen  here 
at  Tuskegee  Institute.  In  all  the  years  I have  been  coming  here.  I 
have  never  found  even  one  teacher  whom  it  did  not  give  me  pleasure  to 
watch  iu  action. 

"I  h.-ive  gone  into  two  rooms  especially  where  not  even  a liook  was 
in  evidence : the  students  and  the  teacher  were  talking  about  cogs, 
wheels,  etc.,  but  no  book  was  in  evidence,  and  the  teaching  was  all  that 
it  should  be.  I never  saw  more  genuine  education  going  on  anywhere 
than  I have  seen  here  at  Tuskegee. 


10 


TT’SKEGEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


“[  waut  to  say  a word  about  the  smiiiner  school:  It  is  influencing 

teaching  in  all  the  colored  schools  of  the  South  in  a most  heli)ful  and 
satisfactory  way.  I do  not  see  how  'fuskegee  could  do  more  than  it  is 
doing  to  help  and  influence  education  throughout  the  South." 

THE  EXTENSION  I )EPART.MENT. 

The  agency  which  carries  the  bulk  of  responsibility  in  rural  work  is 
known  as  the  E.xtension  1 lepartment.  ('linton  .1.  Calloway,  the  head 
of  this  department,  siiends  much  of  his  time  keeping  the  rural  people 
astir  with  some  community  project  umler  way.  something  to  keep  the 
l»oople  alive,  to  give  them  oneness  of  interest  and  to  bring  local  pride 


A Class  In  Sewing,  M.vdison.  Such  Cl.vsses  Are  I’ossirle  Only 
In  the  New  Tvee  of  Rur.vl  School. 

Historically,  this  department  dates  back  twenty  years.  It  began  in  a 
feeble  way  by  sending  out  one  man  at  spare  times  to  create  enthusiasm 
for,  to  arouse  the  people  to,  improved  methods  of  farming,  better  homes 
and  home  surroundings.  Then  came  a committee  of  three.  Messrs. 
C.  W.  Greene,  J.  II.  Palmer,  and  George  W.  Carver,  which  injected 
organization  into  the  system.  This  committee,  which  has  served  sixteen 
>ears  continuously,  encountered  no  end  of  agricultural  prejudices.  One 
of  their  first  efforts  was  directed  towards  deep  plowing.  At  the  time  a 
two-horse  plow  could  nowhere  be  found.  Getting  the  farm  folk  aside 


TUSKEGEE  EXTENSION  ^YORK. 


11 


Auxiliary  Board,  Little  Zion,  Montgomera'  Counta',  Ala. 


12 


TI  SKEdEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


one  Saturday  as  they  were  inakiiijj:  their  weekly  exodus  to  town,  the 
connnittee  ur.ged  the  value  of  deep  plowing. 

‘■We  don't  want  deep  jilowing,”  said  one  farm  preacher.  “You're 
fi.xin'  way  for  us  to  have  no  soil.  If  we  plow  deep  it  will  all  wash 
away  and  in  a year  or  two  we  will  have  to  clear  new  ground.” 

Not  long  after  this,  one  of  the  committee,  having  discovered  a two- 
horse  plow  on  the  brick  yard,  was  putting  his  theory  into  practice.  A 
white  planter  driving  along  the  road  stopped,  went  over  to  him  and 
•said : “See  here,  it's  none  of  my  husiness  of  course,  hut  you're  new 

here  and  I don't  want  to  see  you  fail.  Rut  if  you  plow  your  land  deej) 
like  that  you'll  ruin  it  sure.  I know.  I’ve  been  here.” 

However,  a few  colored  men  were  prevailed  upon  to  use  deep  plowing 
on  a small  scale  as  an  experiment.  The  result  began  to  tell.  One  poor 
farmer  who  could  scarcely  earn  his  bread,  saw  the  results.  He  moved 
into  another  community,  and  followed  instructions.  In  a few  years  he 
bought  nOO  acres  of  land ; gave  each  of  his  four  sons  100  acres  and  kept 
100  himself.  Since  then  the  four  sons,  being  now  content  on  the  farm, 
have  added  to  their  100  acres,  as  has  also  the  father. 

During  this  period  the  committee  use<l  to  go  around  to  the  various 
churches  to  make  their  plea  for  better  methods  of  farming.  They  called 
a meeting  on  one  occasion  at  “Sweet  Gum,”  a church  some  five  miles 
from  the  school.  When  the  Institute  workers,  as  the  committee  was 
called,  arrived,  the  pastor  had  sent  the  people  off  to  a picnic.  The 
prtaicher  feared  that  the  new  doctrine  of  farming  might  tamper  with 
the  convrihiition  box. 

To  the  appeal  for  better  fowl,  cattle,  and  hogs,  the  farmers  gave 
answer  that  they  needed  no  improved  stock.  The  “razor  hack”  hog  or 
“liine  rooster”  took  care  of  himself,  so,  also  did  the  mongrel  hen  and 
scrub  cow.  What  difference  did  it  make,  they  argued,  when  you  ate  an 
e.gg,  whether  the  egg  came  from  a good  breed  or  a scrub  breed  of  fowl. 
Here,  agiiin,  however,  one  man  at  least  tried  the  scheme.  He  is  now 
one  of  the  best  stock  raisers  in  the  county. 

These,  however,  were  the  rare  individuals.  The  masses  had  still  to 
be  reached. 

To  condiat  pre.iudice  of  the  masses,  Tuskegee  sets  for  its  watchword, 
“Educate,  educate,  everywhere  educate.” 

To  do  this  the  Rrincipal,  believing  as  he  does  in  the  persuasiveness 
of  the  concrete,  evolved  the  scheme  of  sending  the  stock  and  iiroducts  to 
the  people  to  let  them  see  the  difference.  This  movement  was  later 
greatly  accelerated  by  the  Jesnp  wagon.  A man  was  put  on  a wagon, 
which  was  drawn  by  a good  well  fed  mule.  A good  hree<l  of  cow  was 
tied  to  the  hack  of  the  wagon.  Several  practical  breeds  of  chickens, 
some  good  ears  of  corn,  bundles  of  oats,  stalks  of  cotton,  good  seed, 
garden  products  which  ought  to  he  growing  at  the  time,  and  a good 


TUSKEGEE  EXTENSION  AYORK. 


13 


plow  were  loaded  on  to  the  wagon.  This  was  the  farmers'  school,  going 
to  the  farmer  who  wouldn't  or  couldn't  come  to  it.  This  was  before 
the  day  of  the  United  States  Demonstration  Agent  had  dawned  upon 
the  Negro  farmer.  The  man  driving  the  wagon  halted  by  the  field  or 
before  an  audience,  delivered  his  message,  pointed  out  the  good  points 
of  his  cargo,  and  then  asked  somebody  to  allot  him  a piece  of  ground 
to  he  cultivated.  This  granted  he  put  his  mule  to  the  plow’,  and  broke 
the  ground  deep,  made  his  rows,  planted  his  seeds  and  moved  on  to  the 
next  locality.  Keeping  a memorandum  he  returned  for  cultivation,  for 
harvest,  and  above  all,  to  enforce  the  lessons  he  had  tried  to  teach  bj’ 
word  of  mouth. 

To  intensify  certain  piiases  of  the  work  a dairyman  woiild  now 
go  to  the  faiiners.  then  a trucker,  then  a poultry  raiser.  As  poultry 
raising  centers  about  the  home  a woman  was  usually  sent  out  to  lecture 
on  this  subject.  Mrs.  G.  .7.  Calloway,  whose  Karred  Rocks  can  now'  be 
found  all  over  the  country,  was  usually  sent.  At  different  points  Mr. 
7.  II.  Washington  gave  lectures  and  demonstrations  in  canning,  and 
offered  to  give  jiersonal  instructions  to  any  man  free  of  charge.  This 
method  of  the  concret(>  was  and  is  oidy  one  of  tiie  many  which  the 
Extension  Department  is  using  to  stir  the  farmers'  ambition  on  the 
one  haiui  and  to  bring  content  on  the  other. 

Eurther  than  this  during  all  these  years  lest  there  should  still 
le  those  who  were  not  reached,  the  Agricultural  Department,  the  Exten- 
sion Deparlment  .‘ind  the  Department  of  Agricultural  Research  have 
been  placing  all  kinds  of  pampldets  and  articles  in  the  farmers’  hands. 
Articles  on  what  to  plant  in  the  garden  each  season  of  the  year,  improved 
methods  of  poultry  bree<ling.  canning,  and  looking  after  stock  have  been 
kept  before  the  farmers  through  a little  sheet  from  the  Extension  De- 
partment known  as  The  Messenger. 

The  Department  of  Agricultural  Research,  under  Prof.  Carver,  has 
to  date  published  some  twenty  odd  pamphlets  on  subjects  helpful  to  the 
farmer.  It  was  that  departmeut  that  worked  out  the  first  scheme  of 
school  gardening  in  JIacon  County.  E.-iter  a pamphlet  appeared  on  that 
subject.  Tl'.en  came  pamidilets  on  ilacon  County  trees  and  shrubbery, 
twenty-one  ways  to  cook  cow  peas,  i)reserving  the  wild  plum  crop,  saving 
the  sweet  potato,  fighting  various  kinds  of  insects  and  pests,  cotton 
growing,  improving  rural  schools,  each  to  meet  the  particular  need  of 
the  farmer  in  Macon  County  and  in  the  South  generally. 

TIIE  SHORT  COURSE. 

There  is  in  addition  a regular  cycle  of  agitations  for  the  black 
man  on  the  soil.  On  .Tanuary  first,  the  Agricultural  Itepartment  begins 
the  regular  Farmers'  Short  Course.  Many  of  the  colore<l  schools  adjourn 
for  this  ])eriod  so  that  the  teachers  and  pupils  can  attend.  For  two 


14 


TrSKEOKE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


weeks,  at  the  very  hegimiing  of  the  year,  fathers,  mothers,  sons  and 
daughters,  sit  side  hy  side  in  the  various  cdass  rooms,  receiving  instruc- 
tions in  gardening,  general  farming,  stock  raising,  and  canning.  In 
addition  the  women  are  given  lessons  in  cooking,  poultry  raising,  house- 
keeping. and  care  of  children. 

A paragraph  from  the  leaflet  of  the  Agricultural  Department  an- 
nouncing the  short  course  for  1914  tells  in  its  own  breathless  style  of 
the  growth  and  opportunities  of  this  course. 

“A  CREATION  OF  THE  FARMER.  BY  THE  FARMER.  AND  FOR 
THE  FARMER.” 

“It  meets  the  crying  needs  of  thousands  of  our  boys  and  girls,  fathers 
and  mothers. 

“IT  S FREE  TO  ALL— NO  EXAMINATION.  NOR  ENTRANCE  FEE 
IS  REQUIRED. 

“It  started  7 years  ago  with  11  students ; the  second  year  we  had  17, 
the  third  year  we  had  70,  the  fourth  year  we  had  490,  and  last  year  we 
had  nearly  2,000.  It  is  the  only  thing  of  its  kind  for  the  betterment  of 
the  colored  farmers.  It  lasts  for  only  12  days.  It  comes  at  a time  when 
you  would  be  celebrating  Christmas.  In  previous  years,  the  farmers 
have  walked  from  3 to  6 miles  to  attend ; many  have  come  on  horseback, 
in  wagons  and  in  buggies.  You  who  live  so  that  you  cannot  come  in 
daily  can  secure  board  near  the  school  for  .$2. .50  per  week.  We  expect 
2,000  to  2,500  to  enter  this  year.” 

And  then  to  stimulate  close  study  the  Department  announces : 

“PRIZES  WILL  BE  GIVEN  AS  FOLLOWS: 

“A  prize  or  $.5.00  will  be  given  to  the  person  who  makes  the  greatest 
progress  on  all  subjects  taught : 

“A  prize  of  $2.00  will  be  given  the  person  who  is  the  best  judse  of 
livestock. 

“A  prize  of  $1.00  will  be  given  the  person  who  shows  the  best  knowl- 
edge of  the  use  and  application  of  manures  and  fertilizers. 

“A  prize  of  $1.00  will  be  given  to  the  person  who  can  demonstrate  the 
best  method  of  laying  out  an  orchard  and  pruning  trees. 

“Corn-.Judging  Contest:  $1.00  will  be  given  the  man  who  can  secure 

the  best  of  the  different  types  of  seed  corn  and  select  the  best  seed  for 
planting. 

“A  prize  of  $1.00  will  be  given  the  person  who  makes  the  best  butter 
and  gives  evidence  of  his  knowledge  of  the  same. 

“A  prize  of  $1.00  will  be  given  the  student  who  makes  the  greatest 
progress  in  cooking. 

“A  jirize  of  $1.00  will  be  given  the  student  who  makes  the  greatest 
progress  in  sewing. 


TUSKEGEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


15 


A L'l.\ss  In  I'ktkiun.vky  Science  Given  to  I’-uniEKs  Attendino  the  Short  Course. 


IG 


Tl'SKKGEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


"A  prize  of  will  be  given  the  person  who  selects  the  best  trio 

of  chickens.” 

The  method  of  instruction  is  liere  worthy  of  attention.  Nothing  is 
given  in  the  alistract.  Is  the  class  told  that  onions,  turnips,  rutabagas, 
cabbage  and  beets  should  be  in  full  flourish  in  .lanuary?  There  are 
the  products  in  piles  fresh  from  the  garden  or  farm  before  them,  and 
out  of  the  window  yonder  they  are  planted  by  the  acre.  A good  breed 
of  cow  is  taken  up  and  studied  by  the  class  as  is  also  a horse,  mule  and 
chicken,  the  teacher  pointing  out  always  the  distinction  between  the 
weak  and  the  strong,  the  profitable  and  the  non-profitable. 


Stidexts  at  Oak  Grove.  Macox  Gouxty.  Workixc;  School  Cottox 
I’atch.  The  I’roi  eeds  From  This  Gottox  Were  Fsed  to  Extexd 
THE  School  Term. 

THE  ANNEAL  FARMERS’  GONFERENGE. 

Concrete  illustration  reaches  its  acme  in  the  Farmers’  gathering 
M’hich  immediately  follows  the  short  course : that  is.  in  the  Annual 
Farmers’  Gonference.  another  organization,  now  nearing  its  ’iOth  year 
of  continuous  existence,  growth  and  service.  To  clinch  the  lessons  of 
good  fanning,  gardening,  canning,  preserving  and  stock  raising,  products 
of  these  are  all  placed  before  the  farmer  audience  which  is  usually 
about  ‘2.000  in  number.  Only  the  exhildt  this  time  is  made  by  various 
farmers  and  not  by  the  school.  Then  the  man,  the  Moman  or  child  M'ho 


TrSKE(JEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


17 


h.is  (lone  the  work  comes  to  the  platform  and  tells  in  his  own  way  how 
the  thin;i  was  done.  Then  there  comes  buzzing  in  the  farmers'  head 
voices  more  niimerors  than  the  voices  in  I’andora's  box,  “Yon  can  do 
that  too,  yon  can  do  that.” 

By  m.i  means,  however,  is  the  time  devoted  exclusively  to  Agriculture. 
I'ro!  ably  a stronger  wedge  still  is  driven  in  seeking  to  give  the  farmer 
wants.  Witness  tliese  (luestions  to  the  various  farmers : 

"Wiiat  ki'.'.d  of  house  do  you  live  in?’’ 

"Do  you  own  that  house?" 

"M'l'.at  ki:  d of  schoolhouse  liave  you?” 

"Do  \ou  semi  your  children  to  school  regularly?” 

"How  many  months  does  your  school  run?’’ 

"Do  ,v(iu  keep  your  teacher  in  tlie  community?’’ 

"What  bind  of  church  have  you  ” 

"Where  does  your  pastor  live?” 

".Viv  your  church,  school,  and  liome  fences  wliitewashed?” 

Accordii  g to  each  speaker’s  answer,  for  understand  these  and  many 
other  (p  estioi  s are  put  directly  to  some  farmer,  so  is  his  admonition. 

Every  farmer  now  tided  with  emu'atio’’.  witli  larger  wants,  with 
wider  skill  of  his  crafts,  gallops  away  on  his  mule  thoroughly  resolved 
that  at  tb.e  next  .Tanuary  meeting  he  can  tell  of  a bigger  crop,  aihiition 
of  a few  acres,  or  first  steps  in  purchasing,  extension  of  .school  term, 
or  some  farm  imiirovement. 

In  the  meiuitime  he  is,  of  course,  not  let  alone  biy  the  school.  The 
old  commit  lee  still  makes  monthly  rounds  of  meetings.  Tlie  demonstra- 
tion agent  imps  u|)  :it  any  lime.  A dtiy’s  session  is  called  at  certain 
intervals  at  tb.e  school.  All  the  time  the  committee,  the  iigent,  the  liead 
of  the  b'xtension  Deptirtmenf.  is  drumming  away  on  the  next  big  occa- 
sion. 'I'bis  is  the  Mticon  County  Eair.  Once  more  the  farmer  is  the 
consfiicmms  figure.  He  dots  rot  talk  now.  he  merely  exhibits.  There 
is  a keen  livalry  between  ' ommunities.  Hogs,  cows,  horses,  fowl,  pre- 
serves, (|Uilts,  fitrm  products  of  all  kinds,  a d arts  and  crafts  of  the 
schools  arc  till  eligible  to  cany  off  ril  bo-s.  This  marks  the  rou  'd  of  fine 
cycle,  only  the  farnter  n ust  not  stop,  since  f'e  c'imate  is  so  mild,  he 
must  go  liglit  iiome  .and  p’  t in  another  cro"'.  so  as  to  have  scr.ving  and 
harvesting  going  on  all  the  year  round. 

BHTI.DING  ItHRAE  SCHCOL'a. 

The  I iggest  task  the  Ertension  Department  '.ms  ' ad  innhu-  way  is  the 
building  of  decent  :tnd  piauti'al  rural  schools,  'n  t'tis  lies  t’le  solution 
of  much  fi'.rm  emigration.  While  the  farnters  would  in  i rore  sfo  k and 
product^,  t'.iere  were  still  many,  w'lo,  not  havi  g e t ■''a'ion  Eiemselves, 
saw  little  use  of  an.v  sebod  at  all;  and  the  s'bwol  ""a-ted,  why  any 
length  of  session,  any  kind  of  teacher,  and  any  kind  o:  'guilding  would 


18 


TT’SKEGEK  EXTENSION  WORK 


A (iKoi  I’  OF  Moi'iiKKS,  Ilui  Zion,  Ai,.\.  '1'iiksk  Womkn  K.\isi:n  Et  i.i.v  Eai.f  iuk  I’l  nds  Nkkdki)  I’ou  tiik  Ni  w 

Ruiu)ING  and  EgUll'MKNT. 


TT'SKE(iEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


19 


do.  And  so  ten  years  ago,  the  department  with  the  Fanners'  Confer- 
ence, threw  down  the  gauntlet  to  shabby  school  facilities,  which  includ- 
ed a defiance  of  shabby  homes,  and  a siiake  of  the  fist  at  couimnnity 
dissensions.  It  showed  mere  iiook-teaching  the  dooi'.  laying  down  a 
sciiednie  for  and  demanding  insi ruction  in  courses  that  gave  useful  train- 
ing. as  well  as  mere  drilling  in  liooks.  To  carry  out  tlie  plan  called  for 
a cliange  in  rural  scliool  architecture.  Tliere  must  be  a room  in  which 
to  teach  cooking,  a dining  room  in  whicli  to  teach  table  setting  and  a 
room  in  wiiich  to  teach  sewing. 


r.o.\Ri)  OF  Tkfsteks,  ^I.\i)isox.  Ar,.\.,  a Negro  ^'ILI.AGE  Eight  IMiles  From 

Montgomera'. 


Now.  jiiior  to  190.1  nearly  ever.v  Negro  school  in  .Macon  Count.v  was 
eiliier  :i  log  cabin  or  a one-room  cottage,  with  one  or  two  wooden  win- 
dows, one  (ioor.  a rickety  woocien  floor  or  a dirt  tlo  u',  as  chance  liap- 
pened  to  will  it  : a leaky  roof,  decaying  logs  and  blocks  of  wood,  1 roken- 
backed  cl.aii's  .and  benches  for  seats.  These  are  tin*  things  that  made 
up  to  tin'  editice  and  surrounding  for  the  children  of  the  ex-slaves 
to  get  an.  education  or  a training  for  life.  To  man,v,  tills  was  good 
enougli.  far  better  than  they  had  had.  certainly:  luit  to  others,  it  was 
wretchedness  of  tlie  deepest  dye. 

.Vnd  s(>  arguments  began  to  circulate.  'I'he  people  tliroughont  the 
County  were  jioor.  Some  few  of  tlieiu  were  .iust  getting  to  tlieir  feet 


20 


TI  SKEGEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


ill  the  inatier  of  laud  l.uying,  hut  the  iuas.>;e.s  were  "ishare-croiipers'’  or 
tenants. 

In  a little  while  a cry  had  come  up  from  a community  known  as 
^Masiiiolia  : “We  want  a new  school  I Help  us  I” 

“Help  ns”  means  funds  to  a certain  extent,  hut  most  of  all  it  meant 
somehody  with  initiative,  suggestion,  encouragement — and  the  welding 
of  factions.  This  last  was  especially  troublesome.  The  rural  colored 
mail  is  the  stanchest  of  partisans  to  his  faith.  A man  of  Baidist  con- 
victious  is  unwilling  to  build  a schoolhouse  anywhere  save  face  to  face 
with  the  Rajitist  Church ; so  it  is  with  a brother  of  the  Methodist  faith 
or  of  any  faith.  The  people  at  Magnolia  had  raised  some  money,  but 
how  much  they  needed  liefore  they  could  break  ground  to  build,  how  to 
go  about  discovering  all  this,  they  were  at  a loss  to  determine. 

MONEY  IS  RAISED. 

Clinton  .7.  Calloway  went  down  to  see  what  could  be  done.  About 
half  enough  money  had  been  raised  to  begin  the  work.  An  appeal  to 
the  people  for  more  brought  the  response  that  no  more  would  be  raised ; 
the  peojde  as  a mass  had  lost  interest.  Faction  troubles,  religious  and 
social,  were  boiling  at  a high  heat.  ilr.  Calloway  returned  to  Tuskegee, 
reported  to  Dr.  M’ashingtou  and  awaited  instructions.  It  chanced  that 
a donor  had  given  several  hundred  dollars  to  be  used  in  helping  the 
Macon  County  rural  schools.  A part  of  thus  sum  was  placed  at  the 
disposal  of  the  school's  representative,  with  instructions  to  return  to 
^lagnolia. 

With  this  definite  plan  made  out.  the  teacher  returned.  Said  he  to 
an  audience  at  ^lagnolia  : 

“A  frieud  who  is  interested  in  you.  who  wants  to  see  you  build  a 
schoolhoiise  and  educate  your  children,  has  sent  you  some  money,  under 
certain  conditions.  That  is.  he  will  give  you  k.io  for  every  S.10  you  raise 
until  a sufficient  sum  is  collected.  M'ill  you  accept?” 

HAILED  WITH  ENTHUSIA.^M. 

A message  from  paradise  could  not  have  been  hailed  with  gi’eater 
enthusiasm.  That  some  friend  was  interested  in  them,  wanted  to  see 
them  get  ahead  and  had  sent  them  some  money  personally  seemed  almost 
too  gooil  to  he  true. 

They  forgot  their  factional  grievances.  Their  courage  came  back. 
Barhecnes.  peanut  suppers,  concerts  of  divers  kinds  were  started  to 
raise  funds.  A central  spot  was  bought  for  the  location  of  the  school, 
a spot  near  the  highway  and  as  near  the  railroad  as  possil  le.  It  in- 
cluded not  ouly  ground  for  the  school,  but  two  acres  for  a school  farm 
anil  garden.  This  was  deeded  to  the  trustees,  for  another  limitation  of 
the  gift  was  that  the  land  had  to  he  1 ought,  paid  for  and  properly 


Tl  SKECEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


21 


deeded,  the  donor  ,s;iviii,!i  the  nione.v  toward  the  selinnl  Imilding  only. 
Two  or  thiee  times  a week  these  peoide  were  together  devising  new 
ways  of  raisiiig  funds.  Tliey  got  to  know  one  anotlier  nndenoinination- 
all.v,  or  as  men  and  women. 

In  two  months'  time  tliey  laid  down  .$100  to  he  covered  by  .$100  from 
the  donor,  and  work  was  begun.  In  si.x  months  from  the  time  the  rep- 
lesei'tative  went  down  from  Tnskegee  the  school  was  finished  and  dedi- 
cated admist  shouts  and  tears  of  a ])('Oiile  in  mass,  who  had  .insi  finished 
t'adr  lir.^h  lesson  in  the  history  of  devising  and  constructing  a school- 
horse. 


•V  Ri  H.u,  School  Co.mmk.vckmknt  E.\:FaiCiSE  Aimt.yixg  Tt  skeiike  ^Iethous. 
This  Yoi  .m;  (Ihu.  of  14  Is  liisci  rr  Rkforf;  ArnncxcF:. 


Rnilding  the  sdiool  at  Magnolia  is  tyfiical  of  what  iiappened  in 
rapid  succession  in  tift.v-odd  commnnities.  This  being  the  first  of  the 
sdiools  to  T’ebuild  it  set  the  county  atlame.  That  commnnit.v  which  did 
not  have  or  was  not  striving  for  a new  school  building,  with  rooms 
for  class'.'s,  ritoms  for  cooking  and  handicrafts  and  a good  school  garden 
or  farm  to  eke  out  the  school  term  from  si.x  to  eight  months  was  dubbed 
"backward.” 

It  must  be  rememliered,  however,  that  cash  among  the  farmers, 
especially  among  black  farmers  of  the  South,  never  runs  at  high  tide. 
If  the  [leojile  own  anything  worth  while  it  is  usually  in  the  form  of 
land,  vehicles  and  stock.  Moreover,  the  funds  for  such  work  at  the 


Tl'SKEGEE  EXTENSION  WORK 


Niocuo  Eak.mkh's  I’kocihkss  r.\i)i:i{  tiik  Instuik  tion  ok  thk  ( 'onkkkknc  i'.  and  Shoki'  Corusio.  I.ix'irs  II, 
I’ou.AKK,  Who  Owns  'I'hksk  ( 'otiaoks,  Eiitsi'  Ei\i;i>  In  ihk  I.o<;  ('aiiin  I'o  thk  Ekit.  'I'h  ionck  IIk 
ISIoVKi)  Into  THK  Ekamk  ('oriAOK  on  thk  Kkhi'I'.  'I'o  'I'his  IIk  Addkd  thk  ('oitaok  at  thk  Uack. 
Eastkv  IIio  IH  ikt  and  Movkd  Ini'o  thk  IIohsk  Shown  IIkkow.  IIk  Owns  Somk  I(!0  Ackks  ok  Good 

r.OTTOM  I /AND. 


TUSKEGEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


23 


“Normal  School,”  as  the  farmers  call  Tuskegee,  had  run  out.  Hence  the 
people  in  the  other  communities  were  not  so  liappy  in  their  progress  as 
was  ^lagnolia.  The  way,  tlierefore,  was  for  many  very  dark.  However, 
help  was  forihcoming.  Some  time  ago  Mr.  .Julius  Kosenwald,  head  of 
the  firm  of  Sears,  Roebuck  & Company,  of  Chicago,  provided  $2,100  to 
be  used  in  aiding  rural  colored  people  to  build  better  schoolhouses.  This 
gift,  by  the  way,  was  signiticant  of  friendship  and  of  a desire  to  stimu- 
late self-help,  since  Mr.  Rosenwald  already  had  before  the  nation  an 
offer  of  $2."),000  to  any  Negi’o  community,  which  could  raise  $7.o,000 
for  the  purpose  of  building  a Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 

That  self-help  design  has  been  accomplished,  can  be  seen  fi’om  the 
fact  that  not  all  the  funds  were  used.  Itemized  accounts  of  expendi- 
tures were  kept,  so  that  at  the  end  of  two  years  the  amount  spent  in 
direct  helping  and  the  like,  was  $1,970,117.  This  so  encouraged  Mr. 
Rosenwald  that  recently  he  has  increased  the  amount  and  extended 
both  the  time  and  the  territory  the  fund  will  cover.  His  plan  now  is 
that  for  the  next  live  years  dating  from  August  1,  1914.  he  will  put  at 
the  disiiosal  of  the  Tuskegee  Rural  School  Extension  Department. 
.$.30,000,  Every  community  receiving  this  fund  must  first  own  its  site, 
which  must  be  dee<led  to  the  State.  No  school  is  to  receive  more  than 
$.3.")0,  which  sum  must  be  equalled  or  exceeded  by  tbe  community  receiv- 
ing the  fund.  With  this  aid  and  with  the  imi)otus  if  will  give  to  self-heli) 
in  rural  settlements,  Mr.  Rosenwald  hoiies  to  see  at  least  100  new  rural 
schools  liiought  to  completion  during  the  allotted  five  years. 

In  all  these  cases  the  Extension  Department  pursut'd  a definite  busi- 
ness plan.  First  of  all  the  site  for  the  school  had  to  be  bought,  paid 
for  and  deeded  to  the  State  through  a board  of  trustees.  As  this  board 
was  made  up  in  most  cases  of  men  and  women  unskilled  in  affairs  of 
any  kind,  these  people  got  their  first  lessons  in  civic  education.  They 
learned  how  to  meet  and  devise  plans:  they  discovered  that  in  spite  of 
one’s  denominational  proclivities  “a  man's  a man  for  a’  that.”  It  gave 
them  a common  interest  and  now  and  for  aye,  the  little  schoolhouse  is 
to  them  a sort  of  social  center,  and  a scene  of  affection,  because  it  was 
here  they  fought  out  so  many  of  tho.se  little  every-day  problems,  which 
go  to  round  out  a complete  life. 


RAGE  FEELING  STIFLED. 

-Vnother  very  interesting  phase  of  this  general  school  building  was 
that  it  soldered  the  white  and  colored  people  closer  together  and  won 
many  a local  white  man  to  faith  in  Negro  education.  Seeing  the  enthu- 
siasm of  the  black  folk,  many  of  the  white  people  gave  freely  of  their 
money,  others  aided  with  hind  er  and  hauling,  others  visited  the  enter- 
tainments. paying  their  way  and  lending  encouragement  by  their  pres- 
ence. 


Souio.  when  the  schools  were  dedicaled.  juit  their  thoufihts  in  writ- 
ing. In  :i  letter  directc'd  to  ilr.  Calloway,  the  mayor  of  Xotasulga 
writes : 

"It  (the  new  rural  school)  is  a credit  to  the  town,  and  I feel  rnre 
that  it  will  he  the  inear.s  of  henefitlng  not  only  your  rac(>  hut  ours  as 
\\'ell.  1 am  truly  glad  to  see  youi'  ]ieo|ile  taking  so  much  interest  in 
l)rei>ari”g  their  young  for  the  duties  of  citizenship." 

C.VrCA.SIAXS  ARE  PLEASED. 

A committee  of  white  people  at  Loachaiioka.  Alai  ama.  wrote:  "We 
take  i)leasure  in  .saying  in  hehalf  of  the  white  citizenship  of  Loachapoka 
that  we  commend  the  assistance  yon  Inive  given  your  race  in  erecting 


LiTTT.f:  Texas  Hefoke  the  People  Kecame  Akovsed  as  to  the  Oi  t-Cast 
State  oe  Their  Schoolhoi  se.  A New  IU  ii.dixg  Costing  .$(>00 
Has  Ueplacei)  'I’his  One. 


a nice  school  Imilding  at  this  place."  while  another  committee  of  the 
rural  community  of  Auhuru,  Alahama.  says : 

"We.  the  white  people  of  this  community,  wish  to  say  to  the  friend 
that  is  helping  the  colored  people  through  Booker  T.  Washington  to 
huild  hotter  schoolhouses  and  foster  education,  that  we  indorse  and 
appreciate  the  aid  given  the  colored  jieople  of  tliis  community.  And  this 
is  tin'  sentiment  of  all  concerned." 

The  colored  people  themselves  wei'e  not  hehind  hand  in  expressing 
their  gratitude.  In  addition  to  local  demonstrations  of  joy  many  sent 
letters  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Uosenwald  as  soon  as  they  could  find  out  his 


TUSKEGEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


TKAINING  1m  Run. ding  SullOOLS 


TUSKEGEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


2() 


name  and  address.  In  their  own  way,  and  many  of  them  are  practically 
nnletlc'cd.  they  set  forth  their  feeling  of  gratitude  to  him.  The  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  Notasulga  school  wrote — 

Notasulga,  Ala..  July  Hi.  1914. 

‘Air.  Julius  Rosenwald. 

Homan  Ave..  Ohicago.  111. 

“Dear  Sir: — We  the  T.ocal  Trustee  Board  Composing  The  Colored 
Puhlic  School  here  at  Notasulga.  Wish  to  Exjiress  our  Sincere  gratitiide 
to  you  for  the  Kind  favor  Shown  us  While  strugling  to  Erect  our 
School  house.  It  is  Indeed  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive.  We 
Shall  assure  you  in  the  gift  of  the  $.300.d0  Three  hundred  dollars  given 
this  I’eople  here  to  assist  in  the  Great  Strugle  will  he  api)reciated  to 
the  highest  Exstent  Marked  hy  signes  of  Evedence  that  as  only  two 
Rooms  has  been  Built  Plans  are  under  way's  to  ad  2 other. 

"Now  in  this  ^lessage  we  voice  the  Centiment  of  The  masses  and 
we  hoite  further  that  you  will  not  think  the  Service  rendered  hy  you 
in  connection  with  the  building  is  not  honored.  We  understand  to 
appreciate  favors,  is  to  take  great  care  of  the  goods  others  has  been 
So  Instrumentaly  Concerned  to  help  us  obtain.  yours 

“K.  I).  Moss.  Secretary. 

“Jno.  Johnson.  Chairman 

‘•B.  !Moore.  Jackson  hart.  W.  W.  .Teams." 

From  Rainer,  Ala.,  the  trustees  wrote:  “It  (the  gift  of  .$.300.00) 

has  encouraged  our  peojile  to  the  extent  that  we  have  been  able  to 
come  from  a .j-months  to  a 7-months  session.” 

A letter  from  the  ladies  of  Eoachaiioka  declares  that  as  a result 
of  the  new  school  through  ilr.  Rosenwald's  gift,  “the  colored  people  in  a 
great  man.v  places  are  waking  up  on  the  question  of  educating  their 
children.” 

From  Brownsville  No.  2.  the  letter  r(>ad.  “About  two  years  ago  or 
better  our  district  school  was  divided,  and  we  were  left  in  the  part  thar 
had  no  schoolhouse.  We  at  once  began  trying  to  raise  money  to  build  a 
schoolhouse,  hut  our  raising  money  was  might.v  slow,  so  we  got  almost 
to  a point  where  we  thought  we  would  never  he  able  to  build  the  kind 
of  schooliu'use  we  wanted.’’ 

So  runs  the  tenor  of  man.v  a letter  of  thanks  from  Madison,  from 
Big  Zion  and  Little  Zion  in  Jlontgomer.v  County  and  from  a large  ninn- 
her  of  sduiols  in  Lee  and  Macon  Counties. 

THE  EDCCATIONAL  TOCRS. 

Broadest  of  all.  perhaps,  in  its  scope  are  the  various  tours  which 
Princijial  Washington  regularly  makes  both  through  counties  and  States. 
The  tours  are  called  educational,  which  they  are.  hut  they  are  social  in 
the  dee]  ter  sense  of  the  word  and  they  are  patriotic.  On  these  trips 
Princijial  Washinsrton  alwa.vs  either  gives  inuietus  to  what  has  been 
started  through  advice,  or  hy  that  bantering  rebuke  in  which  he  is  past 
master,  shames  the  peo])le  into  inqjrovement.  He  makes  the  Negro  do 
more,  and  he  persuades  the  white  man  into  helping  and  being  friendly  to 
the  Negro.  In  the  end  the  State  gets  larger  returns  on  its  citizens  and 
smaller  d(>mands  on  the  police:  this  is  why  these  tours  are  patriotic. 


TT’SKEGEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


I’KiNc  Wash iNciTON  and  I’akty  En  Roi  tk  to  I )i:dk'ation  of  Rukai,  Sciiooi-  In  Montoo.mkuy  ('oi’niy.  The 
S(  nooi.,  Which  Is  to  the  Right  of  the  Chuuch,  Is  Rig  Zion. 


28 


TUSKEGEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


NoUiiiig  can  l;e  more  touching  than  tlie  efforts  of  manj*  Negro 
farmers  on  these  trips.  Has  one  a good  breed  of  pigs,  he  manages  to  be 
feeding  them  just  at  the  moment  Dr.  Washington  is  passing  bj*.  Of 
course  Dr.  Washington  will  stop.  Then  with  what  pride  the  old  man, 
frequently  it  is  a ti’embliug  gray  haired  veteran  who  got  his  inspiration 
from  the  conference,  will  point  out  a big  pumpkin,  plump  ears  of  corn, 
a lusty  calibage,  all  arranged  near  by  for  the  dramatic  moment.  Then 
if  j'ou  don’t  look  sharp  he  will  have  the  party  into  the  house,  where  his 
wife  will  have  jars  of  preserves,  pickles,  cans  of  vegetables,  dried  fruit, 
syrup,  along  with  quilts  and  other  needle  work  all  set  out  to  view. 

But  alas  for  the  man's  pride ! Dr.  Washington  is  sure  to  miss  some- 
thing. 

“That’s  flue,  that’s  flue,”  he’ll  say.  "Got  a good  garden?”  and  out 
before  the  whole  party,  for  teachers  and  others  are  taken  on  these  tours, 
the  farmer  meekly  confesses,  “No  Sir,  we  haven’t  started  one  yit.” 

Thus  firide  bows  to  admonition,  and  the  next  year  there  will  be  the 
garden  os  well  as  the  preserves. 

On  all  these  tours.  State  or  county,  the  Principal’s  text,  no  matter 
what  angle  he  may  choose  to  view  his  subject  from,  can  be  boiled  down 
to  “Make  a little  heaven'  right  here  in  the  South.”  What  a broad  and 
flexible  text ! It  covers : ‘Inject  business  methods  into  your  farming.” 
“Grow  things  in  your  garden  all  the  year  round.”  “Build  and  make 
beautiful  homes  for  your  children  so  that  they  will  not  go  into  the 
dives  of  the  city.”  “Keep  your  bodies  and  your  surroundings  clean.” 
“Stay  in  one  place.”  “Get  a good  teacher  and  a good  preacher.”  “Build 
a decent  schoolhouse.”  “Let  your  wife  be  your  partner  in  the  profit  in 
all  you  do.”  “Keep  out  of  debt.”  “Cultivate  friendly  relations  with 
your  neighbors,  both  white  and  black.”  These  are  just  a few  of  the 
score  of  texts  growing  out  of  the  “Little  Heaven  on  Earth.” 

His  knowledge  of  both  races,  enables  him  to  lay  his  Anger  on  faults 
and  foibles  with  a precision  that  makes  a hearer  fairly  jump  with 
surprise.  His  audience  is  invariably  a mixed  one.  Each  bears  witness 
to  what  is  said  to  the  other. 

What  these  trips  accomplish  is  best  told,  however,  in  letters  and 
accounts  in  various  States.  The  Principal  has  toured  some  dozen  South- 
ern States  in  the  interest  of  education  and  race  good-will.  These  trips 
invariably  bring  letters  and  testimonials  like  the  following.  Speaking 
of  the  tours  of  Texas.  ^Ir.  R.  S.  Lovinggood,  President  of  Samuel  Hous- 
ton College,  Austin,  writes : 

“I  have  scarcely  been  able  to  transact  business  among  the  white 
citizens  of  Austin  for  the  reason  that  they  stop  me  to  discuss  your 
great  speech.  I wish  I could  quote  the  various  expressions  relative  to 
you  and  your  speech. 


TT'SKEGEE  EXTEXSIOX  WORK. 


29 


Ol  T OK  TIIK  Ol.l)  iN'IO  TIIK  XEW,  I’lM:  (IltONE  SfllOOE,  LEE  CoUNTV,  iVl.A.. 


30 


TrSKEGKE  EXTENSION*  WORK. 


‘•Your  speech  has  ami  will  help  us — all  < 'asses  here.  It  is  already 
bearing  fruit.  1 feel  good  effect  already.  And  I want  here  and  now  for 
myself  and  those  I am  permitted  to  represent,  to  thank  you  most  heartily 
for  your  visit  and  trip. 

“Wirh  prayers  and  best  wishes, 

“In  Ilis  Name. 

(Signed)  R.  S.  LOVINGGOOD." 

Of  the  service  of  the  trip  through  Florida.  Mr.  S.  II.  Savage,  of 
Lakewood,  writes ; 

“We  feel  confident  that  your  visit  and  address  will  do  incalculable 
good  to  our  people  and  the  community." 

A letter  from  Mr.  S.  I).  Stewart,  of  Ocala,  voices  a like  opinion  for 
his  section  ; 

"The  friendly  relation  that  has  existed  here  between  the  races  has 
been  more  strongly  cemented,  and  the  determination  to  do  more  firmly 
planted.” 

The  descriptions  of  the  tour  of  Tennessee,  as  written  by  a special 
correspondent  of  the  New  York  Evening  Post,  are  wholly  typical  of  the 
twelve  States  toured.  Speaking  of  the  stop  at  Greenville  and  Bristol, 
the  Post  says : 

“Booker  T.  Washington  ended  the  first  day  of  his  ‘educational  pil- 
grimage’ with  an  address  at  Greenville  last  night.  He  spoke  to  more 
than  (i.OOO  i)eople  yesterday,  about  e<iually  divided  between  Negroes  and 
whites,  at  three  different  places,  stretched  out  over  some  hundred  miles 
in  the  eastern  Tennessee  mountains. 

“.V  remarkable  degree  of  interest  has  been  manifested  in  the  meetings 
of  both  races.  On  all  sides  the  opinion  was  expressed  that  the  progress 
of  the  Tnskegee  educator  would  be  memorable  as  marking  the  beginning 
of  a new  era  in  co-operative  relations  between  the  races  in  this  part  of 
the  South. 


PLAIN  SPEAKING  APPLAi  nED. 

“Or.  Washington  spoke  for  more  than  an  hour.  He  handletl  without 
gloves  n atters  that  Northern  peoi)le  think  must  be  sjiokeu  of  only  with 
the  greatest  caution  south  of  the  ^lason  and  Dixon's  line.  Some  state- 
ments at  first  seemed  almost  to  take  the  breath  away  from  his  hearers, 
but  it  was  not  long  before  they  paid  tribute  to  his  sincerity  and  the 
fearless  iilain  speaking  by  hearty  applause.  Speaking  to  both  races  he 
told  them  they  might  just  as  well  make  up  their  minds  to  stay  where 
the.v  were,  and  work  out  the  problem. 

“Turning  to  his  own  race  he  urged  them  to  cultivate  reliability. 
‘You  have  as  a race  the  tendency  to  be  constantly  on  the  move.  Get 
over  that  tendency.  Cultivate  a reputation  for  reliability.  Be  depend- 
able. I'ick  out  the  place  you  want  to  live  in  and  iiiake  up  your  minds 
to  stay  there  and  rear  your  families  there.  Buy  homes  and  become  fax- 
l)ayers  instead  of  rent-payers.  Start  a bank  account.  Support  the  insti- 


81 


TI  SKEGEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


tutioiis  <-'f  your  city.  Make  yourselves  valued  and  respected  members 
of  the  community.  MTiatever  work  or  business  you  engage  in  put  your 
best  efforts  into  it.  Don’t  be  sarisfied  with  doing  anything  lialf-welL’ 
"These  were  only  a few  of  the  counsels  he  gave  them.  The  meeting 
closed  with  the  singing  of  plantation  songs,  in  which  the  audience  joined. 
As  they  tiled  ont  of  the  hall,  one  heard  only  words  of  praise.  If  any- 
thing the  white  men  were  more  outspoken  than  the  Negroes. 

‘Vo’  cayn't  tell  me,'  drawled  one  tall  and  stately  man  who  might 
well  have  borne  the  title  ’coloner  if  he  didn’t  actually — “yo’  cayn’t 


lU'HAI.  SCIIOOI.  CoM.MKNC  K.MKXT  EXERCISES.  Tills  P>OV  IVlIII.E  StUIIYING 
Ills  Rooks  I, earned  the  1’rincii'Ees  of  Scientific  Farmixg  and 
Many  I’ses  of  Corn  Shfcks. 

tell  me  that  man  ain’t  inspired.  IVliy  he’s  inspired  just  as  surely  as 
Moses  uas  sir;  yes.  sir.  Moses.’ 

’Yo’  are  right,  sir.’  returned  his  companion.  ‘God  did  cert’nly  raise 
him  up  to  lead  his  people  out  of  darkness.’ 

T don’t  belie\e  you  can  calculate  the  amount  of  good  this  speech 
will  do.’  said  Dr.  S.  K.  Preston,  himself  an  educator  of  note.  Tie  didn’t 
utter  a sentiment  that  every  white  man  cannot  indorse  fully.  Racial 
conditions  here  in  Bristol  are  unusually  good  anyway,  but  this  meeting 
cannot  fail  to  better  them.  It  will  set  both  black  and  white  to  thinking, 
and  it  will  surely  inspire  both  to  ponder  how  they  may  live  u]i  to  the 


32 


TUSKEGEE  EXTENSION  WORK. 


standarrt  that  Dr.  Washington  has  set  before  them.  He  is  a great  man 
and  a true  leader  of  men.’ 

BENEFICIAL  EFFECTS  ON  KNOXVILLE. 

“Jolin  M.  Brooks,  the  mayor  of  Knoxville,  ])resided,  and  introduced 
Dr.  Washington.  The  greatest  interest  was  shown  by  the  audience, 
which  was  about  evenly  divided  between  the  races.  Many  of  the  most 
prominent  white  business  men  of  the  city  were  seated  on  the  platform. 

“A  ju'esident  of  one  of  the  largest  banks  voiced  the  sentiment  of  the 
white  population  when  he  declared ; 

“ ‘The  so-called  race  i)roblem  has  never  been  a very  serious  one  here 
in  Knoxville,  where,  we  are  proud  to  say,  the  Negro  population  has 
always  been  honest  and  industrious.  But  Dr.  Washington  has  helped 
us,  I am  sure,  to  keep  on  in  the  way  we  have  been  going.  I am  sure  that 
if  he  carries  the  same  message  of  hope  and  inpiratiou  throughout  Ten- 
nessee, from  Bristol  to  Memphis,  that  the  time  will  come,  and  come  soon, 
when  the  relations  of  the  races  will  be  as  favorable  in  every  section  as 
they  are  here  among  us.”  ’ 

The  work  of  individual  graduates  in  spreading  the  “Tuskegee  Spirit” 
must  be  omitted  as  the  account  of  the  way  they  go  into  the  “backwoods 
settlements,”  get  the  peoide  together  and  “clean  up”  is  a story  in  itself. 
Sutfice  it  here  to  say  that  the  Extension  M’ork  now  comprehend- 
ing every  department  of  the  Tuskegee  Institute,  and  touching  directly 
every  one  of  the  180  teachers,  sets  for  its  mission  in  the  South,  the  dis- 
pelling of  idleness,  the  casting  of  beauty  and  cheer  over  the  lonely  life 
and  barren  surroundings  of  the  Negro  farmer,  by  teaching  him  and 
seeking  to  give  him  the  comforts  of  home,  the  love  of  family,  com- 
munity fellowship  with  white  and  black;  in  a word,  the  fullness  of 
citizenship  through  the  medium  of  the  soil. 


a 


